I'm having a blog problem, and have been for quite some time. The problem is that I never quite know what to do with this place. I'm not very inspired to write here, and when I do it seems to take forever.
Meanwhile, I love my tumblr. I can collect pretty things I find on the internet, post very short tidbits, and hell, even call in and ramble on my birthday. I like the way it looks, and often I am looking for things to make it look even nicer. My tumblr doesn't have comments, but I get feedback via the little liking heart.
More importantly, people actually pay attention to my tumblr. I don't mean to complain, but this blog has been around forever and has a small handful of google reader subscribers. Meanwhile, my tumblr has twice as many readers on google, and TEN TIMES as many followers on the tumblr site. Most of my hits here come from people searching for pictures of ______. My last haiku post, when posted on tumblr, got three little "liking" hearts fairly immediately. Here? Tumbleweeds. Silence. Some hits, but only after I hawked the link on twitter a day later.
I don't really know what logical conclusions to make from this, but the possibly convoluted ones I come up are along these lines:
1. People don't like reading what I write and would rather look at pretty pictures of my choosing.
2. People don't like reading bloggy type blogs in general and would rather look at pretty pictures. (And hey, I am quite honestly one of those people.)
3. This has nothing to do with me, but rather Tumblr is just a much more active and social site which encourages participation amongst followers.
4. Maybe the issue is just promotion, and I should promote this more, but really, this is only the eighth time this year I've updated. What is there to promote?
5. I should probably just move this entire operation to tumblr and call it a day.
Right?! EXCEPT. I have this silly idea in my head that tumblr is not a place to post long-winded anything, it is a place for links, and short quotes, and pictures to scan. Nothing more than a paragraph. I get annoyed when I see very lengthy posts thinking, tumblr is not your blog! It's where you post things you enjoy with little or no commentary! But maybe this idea is wrong, as I guess this whole internet thing evolves or something.
There are places that can juggle this whole blog versus tumblr thing. Such as bits and bobbins. The site is mostly text, with some pictures of course. The tumblr is pictures and quotes, with very little additional text. A perfect website marriage, but can I really pull that off? Not so sure.
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8 comments:
Peronsally, I think Tumblr is what we make it (cliche not intended). But seriously, I've used to for such a variety of things lately that I can't honestly say I know what it's "for" just yet. I say keep this blog around for a little while. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to keep mine going, and I've only had it for a few short months! But the important thing is that you have a place to go when you're feeling long-winded, and don't have to feel guilty about putting it here verses Tumblr. Then, when you feel like getting the instant gratification of likes and reblogs, you have it with Tumblr. Does that make sense? I hope so. Anyway, I'm glad you exist on the internet! <3
I think you could merge them very easily onto Tumblr. You're getting, though, into a problem I have with Tumblr: the social/"like" aspect of it can get a little oppressive, a little peer-pressurized. Instead of writing things you like, you start targeting towards getting "likes." I've noticed that a little bit with me.
On the other hand, you shouldn't feel like you have to keep Tumblr posts short. I know of a few that use it for longer-form pieces (Auteurasaurus , Mills), and they do just fine. In fact, the most reblogged piece I ever had was the field guide to hailing taxi cabs, and that was 1,000 words, the length of a short essay. Your stuff here isn't that long, or so long that people would be annoyed. I mean, I wouldn't. And I've loved PoC for yeeeeeears!
Thanks bizzy! I am also glad you exist internettly. Heh, new word.
Andy, I think the like thing is more of a problem for you because you're like...more popular. Though, I know what you're saying. I might try integrating more text heavy posts into the tumblr to see how it goes...
I like your blog, for what it's worth. Like when you update here with your various projects and thoughts.
Well thanks, as always! It might be moved. I will keep things updated...
what's a tumblr? i read this.
Tumblr is this blog type place that's not particularly for full length blog posts, but isn't as small as twitter...so more like for posting links, pictures, videos, songs...stuff like that. But part of the problem is that it's not super clear what it is for, hence my issue of what to post there versus here.
But, a photo blog like yours would work very well there. And it seems like it's easier to get people to follow there, but maybe not. I don't know.
so halfway between a twitter and a blog? i could use some followers, i don't post to mine every day anymore
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